Valve



y 1 D. G. GRISWOLD 2,352,628

VALVE Original Filed May 17, 1-939 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented July 4, 1 44 VALVE Donald G. Griswold, Alhambra, CaliL, assignor to Clayton Manufacturing Company, Alhambra,

Calii'.

Original application May 17, 1939, Serial No.

274,288, no'w Patent No. 2,243,815, dated May 27, 1941.. Divided and this application March 11, 1941', Serial No. 382,80].

2 Claims. (Cl. 137-139) The present invention relates to valve means and more particularly to pilot controlled valve means.

The principal object of the invention is to provide quiet operating valve means for controlling the flow of fluid, and which-valve means eliminates line shock, chatter and vibration.

Another object of the invention is to provide valve means including a main diaphragm valve for controlling the flow offluid under pressure, and a pilot valve actuable by a relatively small force irrespective of thesize of the valve or the pressure of the fluid flowing therethrough.

Other and further objects of the invention will i be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view or a main valve anda pilotvalve that may be float controlled; Figure 2 is a perspective view, partially in section, of the pilot valve disc employed in the p910 valve shown in Fig. 1; and g Figure 3 is a fragmentary view drawn to exaggerated scale showing specific details of the valve seat of the main valve and the head of the screw which retains the valve washer in assembled relation with the diaphragm.

Referring now to. Figure 1 the main valve is generally indicated by the numeral 24. This valve is of the diaphragm type and comprises a main body portion 250 having a threaded opening 25! in which the upper end'23 of a pipe 2| (the lower end of which may communicate with a source of liquid under atmospheric pressure such as an open tank, not shown) is received and a second threaded opening 252 in which one end of a pipe 25 is received. Intermediate the openings 25! and 252 are transverse partitions 258 and 254 connected by a longitudinal web 255. The web 255 is provided with an opening 256 whereby the passage of fluid may be permitted !rom.the pipe 2| to the P pe 25, and vice versa; when said openinsis unobstructed. The valve 24 comprises valve sections 251 and 258 in .addi

tion to the body portion m. A diaphragm 251 The plug 285 is provided with a hollow stem 28! which extends into an angular-passageway 252 in the valve-section 258. The section 258 is iur- I ther provided with a circular chamber 253 into I which the passageway 282 opens.

As is best shown in Figure 1, a continuous passageway is providedbetween a chamber 254 in the upper part of the body "band the chamber .252 in the' valve section 258. passageway comprises an opening 255 in the body 258, an opening 255 in the diaphragm 251, an opening 251 in the valve section 251, an opening 258 in the gasket 258 and an opening 259 in the valve section 258. It will be clear from the foregoing that any positive pressure condition existing in the chamber 254 will be communicated to the chamber 263 through the continuous passageway 255- 259; the hollow stem 25l of the strainer plug 258; and the passageway 252.

Th diaphragm-251 is provided with a central aperture 215 for the reception of a nut having an internally threaded shank 215 extending axially from a substantially circular head 211 ineluding an annular flange portion engaging one side of said diaphragm. A metallic cup shaped element 218 is provided'with an aperture 219 of a. s ze adapted to snugly receive the shank 215. The hollow portion of the cup member 218 is formed to receive an annular packing element 280. The packing element 280 is provided with .an axial opening 281 and a bolt 282 extends through said opening and has a threaded stem received in the shank 215. The bolt 282 serves to clamp the diaphragm between the head 211 and the cup .218 and at the same time to maintain the packing 285 assembled within said cup. The exposed face288 of the packing 280 is adapted to be held against an annular tapered seat 284 formed on the web 255, and when so held, all flow of fluid through the valve in either direction is prevented.

A very important feature of the valve 24 is the provision of means conducive to quiet operation and gradual cutting-off of the flow through through the valve seatopening 255 and in th s manner whistling and squealing noises otherwise incidental o flow cut-oil are eliminated. The operation 01' the valve is further improved by forming the annular .valve seat 284.-with a. 5 taper. t

The in ermediate valve section 2 51 is provided with a shallowcircular recess 298 adjacent one side of the 'diaphragm '251-,,,flhe, chambe 290 receives the nuthead 2,11-and1iurther iunctlons- .5 as-a receiver ior'pres ure fluid intended to actin ate the diaphragm 251jto close'the valve. '5

; senerally .L-shaped passageway al'iistormedln} chamberat thehi ghest pointlthereof and 'thereby precludes the formation of an air pocketin the chamber 290 which' would tend to. make the valve chatter. Theopposite end 293 of'thefpassageway 29| opens intovthe face of a. boss 294.

The face of theboss 294 ismade smooth andis thus adapted toprovidea seat forf-a disc type pilot valve 296. The valve section251 isfurther provided with an 'L -shaped passageway 291, one

is provided with through ports :25 and :26, re-

. spectively, each port being spaced the same 'dlstance from the axis of the disc. The pilotvalve disc 2961s further provided with a u shaped passageway generally indicated by the numeral .321 and comprising leg portions 328 and 323.

leg 298 of which ishorizontal and opens into the A face of the boss294 and theother leg 299 of which is vertical andcommunicates with an exhaust or drain tube 300 open 'to' the atmosphere.

The valve section 258 is. further provided with chambers 30| and'30l adjacent to the chamber 263. One end 303 of the shaft 302 extends through a drive member 304 for the pilot valve 296. A pin 306 secures the drive member 304 to the shaft 302. The end 303 of the shaft is rounded as indicated at 305 and engages the pilot valve 296 as shown. The drive member 304 is provided with longitudinally extending pins 301 and 308 adapted to project into recesses 309 and 3|0 extending part way through the pilot valve disc 296. The pilot valve disc 296 is positioned in the chamber 263 so that a face 3|2 thereof is adjacent therounded portion 305 of the shaft 302 and its opposite face 3|3 the boss 294.

Suitable packing 3|4 is'disposed in the chamber 30| in surrounding relation to the shaft 302 and seals the shaft against leakage of pressure fluid from the chamber 263.- The packing 3|4 is compressed by a washer 3|5 slidably mounted on the shaft 302 and threaded into the wall of chamber 31. A second washer 3|6 is arra'nged on said shaft in the chamber 30| adjacent the driving member 304. This second washer serves as a bearing support for one end of the shaft 302. A spring 3|1 surrounds the shaft 302 between the washers 3|5 and 3| 6 and urges the pilot valve disc 296 against its seat.

The outer end 3|8 of the shaft 302 is supported in a web 3|9 depending from the valve section 258. The portion of said valve section defining the packing chamber 30| terminate in a wall 320 spaced from the web 3|9 to provide an open-- ing for the reception of an actuating arm 32|. The arm 32| is secured to the shaft 302 by a screw 322 whose shank 322 extends therethrough. This arrangement assures proper assembly or indexing of the actuating arm on the shaft 302.

It will be noted from Figure 1 that the periphery of the pilot valve disc 296 is spaced from the walls of the chamber 263 and that the pins 301 and 308 fit with clearance in the recesses 309 and 3|0. This arrangement permits a more or less flexible or non-rigid drive between the drive member 304 and the pilot valve disc 296; the disc being free to pivot somewhat upon the rounded end 305 of the shaft 302 to accurately align ita self at all times upon the boss 294.

The pressure of the fluid in the chamber 263 aids in maintaining the pilot valve disc 296 in engagement with itsseat. However, the spring 3| 1 maintains such engagement in the absence of pressure fluid in said chamber and thereby mates-with the face of J spective in Figure 2; As is here shown, the same 76 It will .be' notedfrom; Figure 1 that the ieg323 is in alignment with the portion 298'oi the'exhaust passageway 291; It is to be understood that the end 293 of the passageway 29| isspac'ed from the portion 298 a distance equal 'to the,

spacing of the ports 325 and-326fromthefleg "329, whereby either of the ports 325 or- 323 and,

the leg 328 may be brought into registration'with the portion 293 to effect closing and opening of the valve in a manner which will be described hereinafter.

A suitable linkage, including a float in a tan associated with the arm 32| for operating the pilot valve shaft 302 through said arm is shown in detail in Figures 22, 23, 24 and 25 of my Patent 2,243,815 which issued on application Serial No. 274,288, filed May 17, 1939, of which the instant application is a division.

It is to be understood that when the arm 32| is in its ,upper angular position, the passageway 326 in the pilot valve disc 296 is in registration with the passageway 29| in the valve section 251. Hence, the pressure condition in thechamber 263 will be communicated through the port 326 and passage 29| to the diaphragm chamber 290. A partial vacuum condition in the chamber 264 will provide a like condition in the chamber 290. When an open tank, not shown, is associated with the pipe 2|, the higher or approximately atmospheric pressure on the fluid in the pipe 2| acts against the lower portion 231' o! the diaphragm 251 to displace the annular member 280 from the seat 234 and open the valveto permit the flow of fluid from said tank through the pipe 2|, valve 24 and into pipe 25.

So long as liquid continues to flow through the valve 24, the level in the tank, not shown, will be lowered and the float, not shown herein but disclosed in my patent supra, will descend with said level and the arm 32| will be angularly rotated counterclockwise. The angular movement of the arm 32| imparts rotation to the shaft 302 and the pilot valve disc 298 carried thereby so that the port 326 is moved out of alignment with the passageway 29|. In fact, the pilot disc herein disclosed is turned through an angle of approximately 60 by the movement of the arm 32| from one extreme angular position to the other. However, this angle of movement is not critical and may be varied as desired provided the ports 323 and 326 are correspondingly reallocated. When the arm 32| reaches its lower angular position, the pilot valve will have been turned to a position such that the U-shaped passageway 321 registers with the passageways 29| and 293 in the valve section 251; the legs 323 and 329 of said U-shaped passageway being respectively aligned with the passageways 29| and 293. Inasmuch as the passageway 293 is open to the atmosphere through tube 300, the diaphragm chamber 233 will be placed under atmospheric pressure. The above rotation 01' the pilot disc 293 occurs, of course, while suction is eflective in the pipe 23. Therefore, a negative pressure or suction will exist in the chamber 234 and the diaphragm 231' will be actuated by atmospheric pressure to close into the valve 24, pressure will then build up in.

the chamber 264 in the valve 24. When this pressure exceeds atmospheric, the member 289 will be unseated and the water will readily pass through the passage 256 in the valve seat 284, enter the pipe 2|, and discharge therefrom into the tank, not shown. Upon continued discharge, the level in said tank will gradually rise and the float. not shown, will return the arm 32! to its original angular position. Such movement of the arm 32| will necessarily rotate the shaft 392 and the pilot disc 295 and return the same to their original position.

The initial return rotation of the pilot disc 296 causes the leg 328 or the U-shaped passage 32! to become disaligned with the passage 29L This cuts the chamber 290 05 from the atmosphere. However, since the pressure in said chamber is not changed the valve 24 remains open and does not close until the pilot disc 296 approaches its final position. By the time that the arm 321 has been moved into its upper angular position, the port 325 will have been brought into registration with the port 29! and then the pressure of the fluid in chamber 26d will be communicated to the chamber 299 and the diaphragm will be positively actuated to gradually cut oil? the flow through the passage 256 in the valve 28. Thus, the pressure of the fluid flowing through the valve 23 is itself utilized to actuate the diaphragm 25'! to close the valve.

In the foregoing description of the operation of the valve, no function has been ascribed to the port 325 of the pilot disc 296. In practice, this port is packed with a waterproof grease 325- to lubricate the valve disc 296 in its travel over the valve seat 294. Any pressure fluid in the chamber 283 tends to force the grease against the valve seat 294 and thereby maintains a sufilcient film of grease on said seat to keep it properly lubricated.

It will be understood that the valve disclosed herein is not limited to use with the liquid in pipe 2| subject to atmospheric pressure nor with the pipe 25 alternately subject to suction and pressure, inasmuch as such conditions serve merely to illustrate one unique operative installation of the valve. It will also be understood that the pilot valve arm 32l is not limited to actuation by a float mechanism.

It will be further understood that various changes in the details of construction of the main valve and pilot valve disclosed herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the annexed claims.

Iclaim:

1. A valve comprising, a body having inlet an outlet openings; a passageway in said body between said openings; an annular seat surrounding said passageway, said seat being beveled out-' wardly from the inner edge of said passageway on an angle of about 5; a pressure operated diaphragm for controlling the flow of fluid between said openings; a substantially flat valve disc member having a head and a threaded stem extending through said valve disc, said nut including an imperforate circular head portion and a tubular shank of relatively smaller diameter extending from one side of said circular head portion through said diaphragm and being threadedly secured to said bolt stem and enclosing the end of said bolt stem with the portion of the underside of said circular head outwardly of said tubular shank engaging one side of said diaphragm, said bolt head having an annular portion beveled on an angle of about 45 and adapted to enter said passageway, a substantially cylindrical portion of only slightly less diameter than the diameter of said passageway, and a curved portion interconnecting said annular beveled portion and said substantially cylindrical portion, the beveled portion of said valve seat cooperating with said valve disc to provide a leakproof seal, and the beveled and curved portions on the head of said bolt member cooperating with the adjacent wall of said passageway to gradually cut off flow through said passageway to thereby eliminate noise and chattering of the valve disc during flow cut-ofi.

2. A valve comprising: a body having inlet and outlet openings; a passageway in said body between said openings; an annular seat surrounding said passageway, said seat being beveled outwardly from the inner edge of said passageway; a pressure operated diaphragm for controlling the flow of fluid between said openings; a cup member having the base thereof engaging said diaphragm, said base having a central aperture; a substantially flat valve disc seated in said cup member and adapted to engage the inner edge of said beveled seat; and means securing said cup member and valve disc to said diaphragm, including a bolt member and a nut, said bolt member including a head and having a threaded stem extending'through said valve disc and said aperture of said cup, said nut including an imperforate circular head portion and a tubular shank of relatively smaller diameter extending from one side of said circular head portion through said diaphragm and said aperture of said cup andbeing threadedly secured to said bolt stem and enclosing the end of said bolt stem with the portion of the underside of said circular head outwardly of said tubular shank engaging one side of said diaphragm, said bolt head havin an annular beveled portion adapted to enter said passageway, a substantially cylindrical portion of only slightly less diameter than the diameter of .said passageway and a curved portion intercon- 

